Tool drive



April 28, 1942. J. E. WALDO TOOL DRIVE Filed Dec. 11, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR FIG. 4. Z, 02%

7/ f 55% ATTORNEY F'IC3.3.

April 28, 1942. J, E. WALDO TOOL DRIVE Filed Dec. 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'IGVS INVENTOR A Um WQf/(IW I ATTORNEY Patentea Apr- 1942 ITOOL DRIVE John E. Waldo, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to ArmstrongManufacturing 001211., a corporation of Connecticut 00., Bridgeport,

Application December 11, 1940, Serial No. 369,525

10 Claims. 19243.1)

My invention relates to a new and improved ratchet tool-drive.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a ratchet-operateddrive for operating tools which are used for cutting threads, and forvarious other purposes. The tools which may be driven by the improveddrive are screw drivers, reamers, taps, drills, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide.

improvements in the type of device which is described in U. S. PatentNo. 2,048,538,-issued on July 21, 1936, by diminishing the number ofparts and also diminishing the cost of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide very simple and efficientmeans for turnably retaining the tool-holder in the device, and forreleasing the tool-holder so that it can be removed from the device.

Other objects of the invention will be stated in the annexed descriptionand drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view on the line l-l of Fig. 2. When the pawls arein this position, the tool-holder will be intermittently turned in thecounterclockwise direction, when the operating handle of the device isrocked relative to the toolholder.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a part of the device shown in Fig. l,the positions of the pawls being reversed relative to their positionsshown in Fig. 1, so that when the pawls are in the positions shown inFig. 3, the tool-holder will be turned clockwise, when the operatinghandle is turned back and forth.

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3, save that Fig. 4 shows both pawls in therelease position.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate modifications of the device shown in Figs. li.Figs. 5 and 6 correspond to Fig. l.

The invention is shown as applied to a device for operating dies whichare used for threading a pipe or the like. The device comprises a hollowbody I, which has a longitudinal cylindrical tapped socket, in which theinner end of a tubular handle 2 can be removably secured. This end ofthe handle 2 is externally threaded. The body I is provided with atransverse socket 3, whose longitudinal axis is shown in the verticalposition in Fig. 2. The longitudinal axis of socket 3 is perpendicularto the axis of the socket which receives the end of handle 2. Arotatable toolholder sleeve 4 is removably located in said socket 3. Theclamp 5 holds equally spaced threading dies 6 in position in thetool-holder sleeve 4. There may be any desired number, of thesesegmental dies 6. In this particular embodiment, four of these segmentaldies (5 are provided. The tool-holder sleeve v4 is provided with anenlarged flange l, which turnably abuts the adjacent annular peripheryof the socket 3. Screws 8 connect the clamp 5 to this flange 1. Theradial bodies of the segmental dies 6 are located in slots which areprovided in the inner face of the clamp 5. These radial bodies of thesegmental dies 6 are clamped between the clamp 5 and the flange l, byscrews 8. ,The means for holding the segmental dies 6 in position in thetool-holder 4 are old and well-known per se.

The tool-holder sleeve 4 is provided with a series of equal and equallyspaced teeth 9. These teeth 9 are referred to as ratchet teeth in thetrade, although the lateral edges of each tooth are parallel to eachother. The designation ratchet teeth is therefore a general one,.whichincludes any type of teeth.

The outer faces of the teeth 9 are spaced radially from the outercylindrical face 40. of the tool-holder sleeve 4, thus providingshoulders I!) in the tool-holder sleeve 4, at the top and bottom ends ofthe teeth 9.

Pawls II and Ila are respectively pivotally mounted on pins l2 and l2a,which are fixed to the hollow body I. These pivot pins I2 and I2a arelaterally equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the handle 2, whichintersects the common longitudinal axis of the socket 3 and of thetool-holder sleeve 4.

The pawls II and Ha respectively have teethengaging ends l4 and Ma,which can engage the teeth 9. The pawls H and Ha also have respectiveidentical inner surfaces l5 and I511, which are equal portions ofidentical cylinders. The axis of the partial cylindrical portion I5 iscoincident with the central longitudinal axis of the pivot pin l2, andthe axis, of the partial cylindrical surface [5a is coincident with thecentral longitudinal axis of the pivot pin [2a. As shown in Fig. 4, forexample, the pawls l I and Ha have respective recessed portions It and[6a which are located behind the respective partial cylindrical surfacesl5 and [5a. Said pawls II and Ha are respectively provided withoperating knobs I 1 and Ila, which project through openings in the wallof the body I. These knobs I1 and [la can be pushed separately or inunison, in a direction towards the longitudinal axis of the handle 2, bythe fingers of the operator. A helical compression spring I8 has itsends 10- cated over lugs I9 and I9a oi the respective pawls II and Na,so that said spring normally urges the points If and Ida of said pawlsinto engagement with the teeth 8.

Fig. 1 shows the pawl II in its operative position, and the pawl Na inits inoperative position. The pawls can thus be positioned merely byinwardly pressing the knob Ila of the pawl IIa, thus separating thepoint Ida of said pawl IIa from the ratchet teeth 9. The compressionspring I8 then urges the pawl II to turn to its operative position. Thepartial cylindrical surface Ia of the pawl IIa then acts as a stop, toprevent the spring I8 from turning the pawl IIa to its operativeposition. The edge Ea of the partial cylindrical surface I5a then abutsthe partial cylindrical surface I5, between the edges of said partialcylindrical surface I5. When the handle 2 is then rocked so as to turnsaid handle alternately clockwise and counter-clockwise, the pawl IIaremains inoperative. The pawl II will actuate the tool-holder 4 when thehandle 2 is turned counterclockwise, as indicated by the curved arrow inFig. 1. When the handle 2 is turned clockwise, the pawl II turns on thepin I2 and said pawl H slips over the teeth 9, as indicated by thebroken-line position of the pawl II in Fig. 1. When the pawl II is thusturned on pivot pin I2 through a small angle, in order to slip over oneor more of the teeth 9, the lateral edge Ea of the partial cylindricalsurface I5a still remains between the lateral edges of the partialcylindrical surface I5.

When it is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of thetool-holder sleeve 4, the knob I! is pushed inwardly until the edge E ofthe partial cylindrical surface I5 is located between the longitudinaledges of the partial cylindrical surface I5a, as shown in Fig. 3.

The rocking movement of the handle 2 then rotate the barrel 4intermittently in the clockwise direction, as indicated by the curvedarrow in Fig. 3.

When it is desired to remove the barrel 4 from the body I, the knobs I1and Ila are both pressed inwardly to the positions shown in Fig. 4. Thiscan be done by inwardly pressing knob I1 from the position shown in Fig.l, to the position shown in Fig. 4. The pawl IIa remains stationarywhile this is done. Both of the pawls II and Na are then disengaged fromthe teeth 9. As long as one of the pawls II and Ma engages the teeth 9,the removal of the tool-holder sleeve 4 from the socket 3 is prevented,because the operative pawl will then abut the lower shoulder It. Theoperative pawl and the shoulders I3 prevent any substantial verticalaxial movement of the tool-holder sleeve 4 relative to the socket 3,although the tool-holder sleeve 4 can turn freely relative to the socket3. This is an important feature of the invention, because of itssimplicity and reliability.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 is substantially the same in principle asthe embodiment of Fig. 1, and similar parts are indicated by similarreference numerals. The drawings are substantially to scale andreference is made thereto for further details.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the shanks of finger-operated buttons and20a are slidably mounted in bores of the body I. Each of these buttonshas an enlarged inner head and an enlarged outer head. One or more ofthese heads can be detached from the shank of the respective button.These buttons have the same func- Will ' suitable manner.

tion as the knobs I1 and Ila. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the innerfaces of the pawls 2| and 2Ia are provided with identical concaverecesses 22 and 22a. When one of the pawls is in the operative position,like the position of pawl 2 la in Fig. 5, the respective recess of theinoperative pawl interfits with a corresponding convex portion of theoperative pawl, thus providing reliable releasable interlocking meansfor holding one of the pawls inoperative and for holding the other pawloperative. The inner faces of the pawls 2I and 2Ia have partialcylindrical surfaces which correspond to the partial cylindricalsurfaces I5 and I5a, and the partial cylindrical surfaces of the pawls2I and 2 Ia merge into concave portions 23 and 23a.

In the embodiment of Fig. 6, a, tension spring 24 replaces therespective compression springs of the previous embodiments. The pawls 25and 25a of Fig. 6 are identical in operation with the pawls I I and Ila, as any difference in configuration is immaterial. The pawls 25 and25a have integral operating lugs 26 and 26a.

It is clear that the improved device eliminates many of the partsdescribed in said U. S. Patent No. 2,048,538, so that the cost of themanufacture of the improved device is substantially diminished.

The body of the device therefore has a socket in which a tool-holder isturnably and removably mounted. Said body has a chamber in which theteeth of said tool-holder are located. The pawls of the body are locatedin said chamber. The body can be a casting or made in any When I referto a manuallyoperable pawl in a claim or claims, I include a pawl whoseposition can be controlled in any manner:

Referring to Fig. 2, the bottom annular shoulder It acts as stop-meansassociated with the pawl which is in operative position, to hold thetool-holder turnably in its socket. As shown in Fig. 4, when both pawlsare in respective inoperative positions, the corresponding edges of thepartial cylindrical stop walls are directly adjacent each other and saidstop walls are then slightly spaced, or they may then contact. Theinvention is not limited to cylindrical stop walls.

The operative portion of the stop-surface I5 is a little longer than thedistance between the points E and Ea in Fig. 1. Hence the shape of theremainder of said stop-surface I5 is immaterial. The same applies tostop-surface I5a.

The radius of the stop-surface I5 in Fig. l, to the point Ea, isinclined to the corresponding radius of stop-surface I5a, to said pointEa. These abutting portions of the stop-surface are the operativeportions, and in effect, they form two pivoted arms, which are inclinedto each other. When the knob Ila is forced inwardly to its full extent,this arm-portion of stop-surface I5a passes counterclockwise beyond therighthand edge of stop-surface I5, so that spring I8 snaps the pawl IIto operative position, while pawl I la is yieldingly held in itsinoperative position. I therefore claim the use of members of anyconfiguration or joint action which will accomplish this result.

The pawls II and Na may be hand-operated or operated automatically inany suitable manner.

I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is clear thatnumerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from itsspirit.

I claim:

l. A tool-drive comprising a body which has a socket, a turnable memberturnably mounted in said socket so that the body can be turned relativeto said turnable member, said turnable member having-lateral teeth, apair of pawls, each pawl being movably connected to said body, each pawlbeing movable to an operative position in which said pawl contacts withsaid teeth to turn said turnable member in unison with said body onlywhen the body is turned in a predetermined direction, resilient meansadapted to urge each said pawl to its respective operative position,each said pawl being movable relative to the turnable member so that thepawl slips over said teeth when said pawl i in operative position andwhen the body is turned in a direction reverse to said predetermineddirection so that the body is then turned relative to said turnablemember, eachsaid pawl being movable to an inoperative position in whichsaid pawl is held spaced from said teeth, said pawls having adjacentstop wall which contact with each other when one pawl is in operativeposition and the other pawl is ininoperative position, said stop wallsbeing shaped so that the stop wall of the pawl which is in operativeposition holds the other pawl in inoperative position, both said pawlsbeing movable to respective inoperative positions, the direction inwhich the turnable member is turned in unison with said body when one ofsaid pawls is in operative position, being reverse to the direction inwhich said turnable member is turned in unison with the body when theother pawl is in operative position.

2. A tool-operating device comprising a body which has a socket, atool-holder turnably mounted in said socket so that the body can beturned relative to said tool-holder, said toolholder having lateralteeth, a pair of manuallyoperable pawls, each pawl being movablyconnected to said body, each pawl being movable to an operative positionin which said pawl contacts with said teeth to turn said tool-holder inunison with said body only when the body is turned in a predetermineddirection, spring means adapted to urge each said pawl to its respectiveoperative position, each said pawl being movable relative to thetool'holder so that the pawl slips over said teeth when said pawl is inoperative position and when the body is turned in a direction reverse tosaid predetermined direction so that the body is then turned relative tosaid tool-holder, each said pawl being movable in an inoperativeposition in which said pawl is held spaced from said teeth, said pawlshaving adjacent stop walls which contact with each other when one pawlis in operative position and the other pawl is in inoperative position,said stop walls being shaped so that the stop wall of the pawl which isin operative position holds the other pawl in inoperative position, bothsaid pawl-s being movable to respective inoperative positions, thedirection in which the tool-holder is turned in unison with said bodywhen one of said pawls is in operative position, being reverse to thedirection in which said tool-holder is turned in unison with the bodywhen the other pawl is in operative position, the tool-holder havingstop-means over which the pawl which is in operative position thenprojects, said stop-means and the respective projecting part of theoperative pawl being adapted to hold the tool-holder turnably in saidsocket, said tool-holder being removable from said socket when each pawlis in it respective inoperative position, each said pawl then clearingsaid stop-means.

3. A tool-operating device comprising a body which has a socket, atool-holder turnably mounted in said socket so that the body can beturned relative to said tool-holder, said toolholder having lateralteeth, a pair of manuallyoperable pawls, each pawl being movablyconnected to said body, each pawl being movable to an operative positionin which said pawl contacts with said teeth to turn said tool-holder inunison with said body only when the body is turned in a predetermineddirection, spring means adapted to urge each said pawl to its respectiveoperative position, each said pawl being movable relative to thetool-holder so that the pawl slips over said teeth when said pawl is inoperative position and when the body is turned in a direction reverse tosaid predetermined direction so that the body is then turned relative tosaid toolholder, each said pawl being movable in an in operativeposition in which said pawl is held spaced from said teeth, said pawlshaving adjacent stop walls which contact with each other when one pawlis in operative position and the other pawl is in inoperative position,said stop walls being shaped so that the stop wall of the pawl which isin operative position holds the other pawl in inoperative position, bothsaid pawls being movable to respective inoperative positions, thedirection in which the tool-holder is turned in unison with said bodywhen one of said pawls is in operative position, beng reverse to thedirection in which said tool-holder is turned in unison with the bodywhen the other pawl is in operative position, the tool-holder havingstop-means over which the pawl which is in operative position thenprojects, said stopmeans and the respective projecting part of theoperative pawl being adapted to hold the toolholder turnably in saidsocket, said tool-holder being removable from said socket when each pawlis in its respective inoperative position, each said pawl then clearingsaid stop-means, said stop-means being a shoulder which is outwardlylaterally located relative to said teeth with respect to the axis ofrotation of the tool-holder.

4. A tool-operating device comprising a body which has a socket, atool-holder turnably mounted in said socket so that the body can beturned relative to said tool-holder, said toolholder having lateralteeth, a pair of manuallyoperable pawls, each pawl being movablyconnected to said body, each pawl being movable to an operative positionin which said pawl contacts with said teeth to turn said tool-holder inunison with said body only when the body is turned in a predetermineddirection, spring means adapted to urge each said pawl to its respectiveoperative position, each said pawl being movable relative to thetool-holder so that the awl slips over said teeth when said pawl is inoperative position and when the body is turned in a direction reverse tosaid predetermined direction so that the body is then turned relative tosaid tool-holder, each said pawl being movable in an inoperativeposition in which said pawl is held spaced from said teeth, said pawlshaving adjacent stop walls which contact with each other when one pawlis in operative position and the other pawl is in inoperative position,said stop walls being shaped so that the stop wall of the pawl which isin operative position holds the other pawl in inoperative position, bothsaid pawls being movable to respective inoperative positions, thedirection in which the tool-holder is turned in unison with said bodywhen one of said pawls is in operative position, being reverse to thedirection in which said tool-holder is turned in unison with the bodywhen the other pawl is in operative position, said tool-holder having apair of lateral annular shoulders at the respective ends of said teeth,said shoulders being outwardly laterally located relative to said teethwith respect to the axis of rotation of the tool-holder, the height ofthe respective endportion of each pawl being substantially equal to thedistance between said shoulders in a direction parallel to the axis ofrotation of the tool-holder, so that the pawl which is in operativeposition turnably holds the tool-holder in its socket, while preventingany substantial movement of the tool-holder in its socket in a directionparallel to its axis of rotation.

5. A tool-operating device comprising a body I which has a socket, atool-holder turnably mounted in said socket so that the body can beturned relative to said tool-holder, said toolholder having lateralteeth, a pair of manuallyoperable pawls, each pawl being movablyconnected to said body, each pawl being movable to an operative positionin which said pawl contacts with said teeth to turn said tool-holder inunison with said body only when the body is turned in a predetermineddirection, spring means adapted to urge each said pawl to its respectiveoperative position, each said pawl being movable relative to thetool-holder so that the pawl slips over said teeth when said pawl is inoperative position and when the body is turned in a direction reverse tosaid predetermined direction so that the body is then turned relative tosaid tool-holder, each said pawl being movable in an inoperativeposition in which said pawl is held spaced from said teeth, said pawlshaving adjacent stop walls which contact with each other when one pawlis in operative position and the other pawl is in inoperative position,said stop walls being shaped so that the stop wall of the pawl which isin operative position holds the other pawl in inoperative position, bothsaid pawls being movable to respective inoperative positions, thedirection in which the tool-holder is turned in unison with said bodywhen one of said pawls is in operative position, being reverse r to thedirection in which said tool-holder is turned in unison with the bodywhen the other pawl is in operative position, said stop walls havingrespective concave and convex portions which interfit when one of thepawls is in operative position and the other pawl is in inoperativeposition.

6. A tool-operating device comprising a body which has a socket, atool-holder turnably mounted in said socket so that the body can beturned relative to said tool-holder, said toolholder having lateralteeth, a pair of manuallyoperable pawls, each pawl being movablyconnected to said body, each pawl being movable to an operative positionin which said pawl contacts with said teeth to turn said tool-holder inunison with said body only when the body is turned in a predetermineddirection, spring means adapted to urge each said pawl to its respectiveoperative position, each said pawl being movable relative to thetool-holder so that the pawl slips over said teeth when said pawl is inoperative position and when the body is turned in a direction reverse tosaid predetermined direction so that the body is then turned relative tosaid tool-holder, each said pawl being movable in an inoperativeposition in which said pawl is held spaced from said teeth, said pawlshaving adjacent stop walls which contact with each other when one pawlis in operative position and the other pawl is in inoperative position,said stop walls being shaped so that the stop wall of the pawl which isin operative position holds the other pawl in inoperative position, bothsaid pawls being movable to respective inoperative positions, thedirection in which the tool-holder is turned in unison with said bodywhen one of said pawls is in operative position, being reverse to thedirection in which said toolholder is turned in unison with the bodywhen the other pawl is in operative position, each pawl being rotatablyconnected to the body by a separate pivot member, said stop walls beingparts of equal cylinders whichv have lateral edges, the axis of eachstop wall coinciding with the axis of rotation of the respective pawl,the lateral edge of the stop wall of the inoperative pawl abutting thestop wall of the operative pawl and being spaced from the lateral edgeof the stop wall of the operative pawl.

7. A tool-operatingdevice comprising a body which has a socket, atool-holder turnably mounted in said socket so that the body can beturned relative to said tool-holder, said toolholder having lateralteeth, a pair of manuallyoperable pawls, each pawl being movablyconnected to said body, each pawl being movable to an operative positionin which said pawl contacts with said teeth to turn said tool-holder inunison with said body only when the body is turned in a predetermineddirection, spring means adapted to urge each said pawl to its respectiveoperative position, each said pawl being movable relative to thetool-holder so that the pawl slips over said teeth when said pawl is inoperative position and when the body is turned in a direction reverse tosaid predetermined direction so that the body is then turned relative tosaid tool-holder, each said pawl being movable in an inoperativeposition in which said pawl is held spaced from said teeth, said pawlshaving adjacent stop walls which contact with each other when one pawlis in operative position and the other pawl is in inoperative position,said stop walls being shaped so that the stop wall of the pawl which isin operative position holds the other pawl in inoperative position, bothsaid pawls being movable to respective inoperative positions, thedirection in which the tool-holder is turned in unison with said bodywhen one of said pawls is in operative position, being reverse to thedirection in which said tool-holder is turned in unison with the bodywhen the other pawl is in operative posi-- tion, each pawl beingrotatably connected to the body by a separate pivot member, said stopwalls being parts of equal cylinders, the axis of each stop wallcoinciding with the axis of rotation of the respective pawl, each saidpawl having a concave recess immediately succeeding the rear of itspartial cylindrical stop wall, each said recess having a negativecurvature which is equal to the positive curvature of each said partialcylindrical stop wall, the recess of the inoperative pawl meshing with acorrespondingly shaped part of the stop wall of the operative pawl.

8. A tool-operating device comprising a body which has a socket, atool-holder turnably mounted in said socket so that the body can beturned relative to said tool-holder, said toolholder having lateralteeth, a pair of manuallyoperable pawls, each pawl being movablyconnected to said body, each pawl being movable to an operative positionin which said pawl contacts with said teeth to turn said tool-holder inunison with said body only when the body is turned in a predetermineddirection, spring means adapted to urge each said pawl to its respectiveoperative position, each said pawl being movable relative to thetool-holder so that the pawl slips over said teeth when said pawl is inoperative position and when the body is turned in a direction reverse tosaid predetermined direction so that the body is then turned relative tosaid tool-holder, each said pawl being movable in an inoperativeposition in which said pawl is held spaced from said teeth, said pawlshaving adjacent stop walls which contact with each other when one pawlis in operative position and the other pawl is in inoperative position,w

other pawl is in operative position, said stop walls havingcorresponding lateral edges which are substantially directly adjacenteach other, when both pawls are in respective inoperative position.

9. A tool-operating device comprising a body which has a socket, atool-holder turnably mounted in said socket so that the body can beturned relative to said tool-holder, said toolholder having lateralteeth, a pair of manuallyoperable pawls, each pawl being movablyconnected to said body, each pawl being movable to an operative positionin which said pawl contacts with said teeth to turn said tool-holder inunison with said body only when the body is turned in a predetermineddirection, spring means adapted to urge each said pawl to its respectiveoperative position, each said pawl being movable relative to thetool-holder so that the pawl slips over said teeth when said pawl is inoperative position and when the body is turned in a direction reverse tosaid predetermined direction so that the body is then turned relative tosaid tool-holder, each said pawl being movable in an inoperativeposition in which said pawl is held spaced from said teeth, said pawlshaving adjacent stop walls which contact with each other when one pawlis in operative position and the other pawl is in inoperative position,said stop walls being shaped so that the stop wall of the pawl which isin operative position holds the other pawl in inoperative position, bothsaid pawls being movable to respective inoperative positions, thedirection in which the toolholder is turned in unison with said bodywhen one of said pawls is in operative position, being reverse to thedirection in which said tool-holder is turned in unison with the bodywhen the other pawl is in operative position, said stop walls havingcorresponding edges substantially directly adjacent each other, whenboth pawls are in respective inoperative position, said contactin wallsbeing then spaced from each other.

10. A tool-operating device comprising a hollow body having an innerchamber, said body also having a socket which communicates with saidinner chamber, a tool-holder turnably mounted in said socket, saidtool-holder having teeth which communicate with said inner chamber, apair of manually-operable pawls located in said inner chamber andpivotally connected to said body, each pawl having a front end which isadapted to mesh with said teeth, spring means adapted to urge said pawlsto operative position, said pawls having respective stop means shapedand located so that the pawl which is in operative position holds theother pawl in inoperative position, the operative pawl engaging saidteeth to turn the tool-holder in unison with the body when the body isturned in a predetermined direction, said operative pawl being free toslip over said teeth when the body is turned reverse to saidpredetermined direction, the direction in which the tool-holder isturned in unison with said body when one of said pawls is in operativeposition, being reverse to the direction in which said tool-holder isturned in unison with the body when the other pawl is in operativeposition.

JOHN E. WALDO'. v

